Alumni Endorsements

"When I first started to attend UVU I was a music major, but because I wanted to be
able to get a job after school, I decided I needed to change my major. I went into
my Wolverine Track (an online tool that helps students plan for graduation) and tried
to find what degree I was closest to. It turns out a degree in Communication was the
answer. I met with Vegor Pedersen (one of the department’s academic advisors) and
we discussed my road to graduation. I know it sounds like I threw a dart to find a
major, but I believe I was lead by inspiration. Sometimes you just have to blindly
choose a path to see what is right for you and as for me, I got lucky and hit a bullseye.
I love Communication and everyone in the department. I wouldn't trade my experiences
as a Comm major for anything."--Cori Place

"My experience in the COMM department at UVU has helped me prepare personally and
professionally for the rest of my life. I chose this major because I was passionate
about the knowledge contained in the coursework. The concepts COMM students acquire
and apply are so relevant to every-day life. I came to appreciate the value of the
discipline. I also really enjoyed how personable the faculty was, making each class
meaningful. All in all, I felt like this department was where I belonged all along."--Kody
Hansen

"I have loved my experience as a communication major at UVU. The teachers have been
helpful in teaching me and giving me real-life application. The fact that I was able
to do actual reporting and writing to build up my experience was priceless. That is
the reason I was able to get my internship at KSL, and now I have a job because of
it. Jobs in journalism are slim to none these days, and I know that I got my job as
a direct result from the things I learned in my classes and my internship with the
Communication department."-- Faith Jelley

"At UVU I met in person with many of the Communication Department professors and was
really impressed. The Communication Department, through my courses and one-on-one
instruction, has provided me with great knowledge and experience that helps me in
my current position and will continue to help me throughout my career. The value of
experience in the workplace in the form of internships or job experience is invaluable,
and the Communication Department has provided many opportunities to gain experience
in the real world." --Daron Shumway

"I've always wanted to go to medical school and have been involved in numerous science
classes. Majoring I'm speech communication gave me a sense of balance. It allowed
me to work in groups, speak in public, and learn interpersonal communication skills.
I was able to interact with other students in every class and gain valuable skills
that will be put to use in my post-college career."--Matthew Hardman

"As an intern with Ogilvy Public Relations, I was amazed to see the same tools and
tactics I was taught inside the walls of UVU applied to campaigns for global brands.
I walked into my internship very nervous, not knowing if I was prepared, but within
days I realized how well my professors had prepared me for the real world experiences
I would encounter. UVU Communication empowered me with the skills and knowledge I
needed to succeed in a fast paced, real-world environment."--Chris Bailey

"The UVU Communication Department is an excellent department that not only inspired
me to choose my career path, but personally assisted me along the way. The staff,
who themselves are experts in the Communication field, provide valuable education
that is irreplaceable in my life today. The personal advice and lessons I received
from my professors and academic advisor play a major role in my current job and success.
Being a UVU Communication graduate has provided me with life long knowledge of my
field, and a very important camaraderie with other UVU Communication graduates."--Jo
Metcalf

"The Speech Communication program at Utah Valley University provides students a vast
array of opportunities for personal and professional growth. Among these opportunities
are mediation training, teaching assistantships in public speaking courses, club membership
and leadership, and speech competitions. Further, students learn theories that enhance
their ability to communicate with and understand others. Students have the opportunity
to test these theories through first-hand research and scholarly writing. Finally,
the faculty are highly respected in the field of speech communication. They are seasoned
and caring professionals who are devoted to the development of their students. There
simply isn’t a better program anywhere!"--Joan Palmer

"Words literally could not describe my love and appreciation for the Utah Valley university
Communication Department. I can honestly say, that I would not be where I am now without
going through the Public Relations program. Every single aspect that Stephen Whyte
and Farah Chase-Dun teach in their classes are real-world necessities in the wild
world of public relations. I am also grateful for the time and knowledge that Vegor
Pedersen (a communication department academic advisor) shared with me, keeping me
on track to succeed. If I could share any advice with current students I would tell
them to get involved! Join and run for office in PRSSA, do Bateman, write for the
UVU Review, meet and network with fellow PR students, apply to go on PR trips and
goon them…and most importantly, listen to Stephen and Farah, they really know what
they're talking about! Public relations is a fast and demanding career, but is so
much fun if you’re willing to put in the work. UVU has already been recognized nationally
for their excellence in public relations, but trust me when I say that UVU has one
of, if not the best, PR programs out there." --Nathaniel Gray (Class of 2011)

"Some of the strongest features of the Comm. Department at UVU were the abilities
I had learned from faculty members to network and organize in my community. Having
the flexibility of the Speech Communication emphasis, allowed me to take courses that
pertained to social justice and allowed me to expand my knowledge of the world and
the many injustices that occur in the global sense as well as in my local community.
Having my knowledge base (from Peace and Justice related-courses) and applying my
community and social mobilizing skills (provided by Communication courses), I was
able to find employment where I could instill and mold themes of social justice into
my daily professional experience, even if I was just a simple "recruiter." Two professors
I continually am grateful for were Janet Colvin, who gave me opportunities to grow
and become involved in research and Matt Kushin, who inspired my goal to one day become
a university faculty member. Last but not least, I would like to thank Vegor Pederson,
my Comm. advisor, who put up with endless questions from me and was just a great source
of social justice knowledge, who I could always vent to." --Agustin Diaz

"I started my college career when the school was known as UVSC and a four-year option
wasn’t available. I eventually had to transfer to the University of Utah to continue
pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree, but quickly became disappointed with their program.
At the U, I was one of hundreds of students in the program, just another face and
I felt that internships and club memberships were only made available to a select
few. Out of frustration I decided to put my education on hold and while on break from
school I learned about the 4-year degree in Public Relations at UVU. I set up an appointment
with an advisor and before I knew it I was transferring back. I was encouraged by
how the new department was set up and how clearly laid out my path to graduation was.
The numerous options for real-world participation in my emphasis (Case Studies, Capstone,PR
Firm, PRSSA) provided by the instructors, showed me all the possibilities I would
have with a degree in Communications. I also appreciated how instructors in the Communication
Department pushed student involvement in internships and went out of their way to
learn who I was, and adapt my interests to the field of study. Because of their belief
in me I never felt that I was just a face, but a part of a team. I believed that I
would be able compete with “the best” after graduation and became determined to make
my goals a reality. I took on several internships with their encouragement and got
two jobs from two of those internships, one of them being where I work now."--Brittany
Loose

"My education in Public Relations from Utah Valley University was absolutely exceptional.
The value of real world experience being incorporated into many of the classes taught
by my professors made my transition into a professional working environment nearly
seamless. After completing my education in Public Relations at UVU, I felt prepared
to handle the job responsibilities within that field that have come my way since graduating.
I'll always be thankful for many of the professors I learned from."--Kyle Flanagan